(NaturalNews) With the facts about the severity of Japan's 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant explosion beginning to trickle in, more people around the world are becoming concerned about nuclear fallout protection. While some experts, such as the Center For Disease Control and Prevention, cautiously recommend potassium iodide (KI) for radiation exposure, others state that potassium iodide may present more risks than benefits. In addition, a University of California at Davis study raises some concern over kelp ingestion. As a possible safe alternative, one naturally-occurring herb to help protect the body against radiation exposure is the sea vegetable, purple dulse.

Medical Concerns Over the Use of Kelp For Iodine Support

Some medical doctors have concerns about using kelp as a primary source for iodine. These concerns may be warranted. A 2007 study done at the University of California Davis showed that eight out of nine random samples of kelp supplements purchased at local health food stores tested positive for elevated levels of arsenic. People desiring to use kelp for protection against possible radiation exposure should purchase this sea vegetable from a highly reputable source.

When, and When Not to Take Potassium Iodide For Radiation Fallout Exposure

The Center For Disease Control has published a reference on potassium iodide on its website. It states that potassium iodide (KI) should only be used by people who are in direct or imminent danger of high levels of radiation exposure. Potassium iodide protects the thyroid from radioactive iodine, but it does not protect the rest of the body from radiation exposure. It does not protect the body from other elements in radioactive fallout, such as cesium. Taking high dosages of potassium iodide may be poisonous, and even lethal.

Purple dulse is a cold water sea vegetable that looks similar to purple cabbage when harvested. Dulse is often used in traditional herbal recipes for constipation, to relieve scurvy, and as a mild aid for parasite removal. However, purple dulse is also chock-full of phytochemicals, which stimulate thyroid hormones within the human body.

Purple dulse is a bio-available and easily assimilated, completely natural, plant form of iodine and other trace minerals. It is considered a "superfood." This means that dulse is a whole food, rather than a synthetic, isolated supplement or drug. Superfoods contain an entire array of health benefits, and they usually do not upset the natural balance of the human body.

Dulse has 72 mcg/g of natural iodine in the form of iodide. By comparison, kelp has an average of 1542 mcg/g iodide. According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, the adult recommended dietary allowance for iodine, in both males and females, is 150 mcg/day. So, just two grams, or approximately one-half teaspoon of purple dulse taken on a daily basis, is enough to overcome iodine deficiency in the average adult body.

National Institute of Health.gov, "Comparison of Iodine Content of Seaweed By Genus, Geographic Location, and Study," Teas et al., and Lee et al. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2006 June 21(6). C11-C14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC...

About the author

Donna Rae is a freelance writer, blogger, and herbalist. She owns Donna Rae Online Writing Services (ANCHOR TEXT) , niche writing regularly in the alternative health care and education industries. Donna also owns Donna Rae At Home.com, a college prep home education website, and Bluebonnet Natural Healing Therapies.com ANCHOR TEXT, a blog site dedicated to educating people new to using herbs and natural methods to improve health.

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